Ever wonder which makeup tips Hollywood starlets use to maintain that flawless look? Is it possible they are truly that perfect? In a word: No. Even the most attractive woman approaches the morning mirror with the same trepidation you do, faced with less than perfect looks and that one feature they just want to get rid of. It might be a lopsided nose or a double chin. Perhaps it is a prominent birthmark or eyes that are too small for the rest of her face. Whatever your undesirable feature, rest assured you are not alone. Each day millions of women face the daunting challenge of living with a feature they hate and spending countless time and money to conceal it.

Are you ready for some good news? It is not as difficult as it seems when you are staring into that morning mirror. In fact, there are makeup tips anyone can use to cover up even the most troublesome feature. With a little practice and perhaps a trip to the beauty supply store, you too can use these makeup beauty tips to look as flawless as Eva Longoria or Angelina Jolie.

Dealing with the Double Chin

Double chins are the bane of many women. They can appear almost overnight, a result of fluid build-up, gaining a few extra pounds or a predisposition for fat deposits in this area (thanks, Mom.) While regular exercise is always a helpful strategy in controlling unwanted fat, sometimes there is nothing that can be done to get rid of a double chin. Do not despair, though. There are steps you can take to minimize the appearance of a double chin, making you the only person who knows it is still there.

Start by making your jaw line more prominent. Think about how your chin disappears when you lift your jaw and stand more erect. This is the effect you are going for with your makeup. Use powder or foundation on the upper neck just below the jaw line that is a shade darker than your face. Run the color around your entire neck, from ear to ear, and blend it completely into your skin. This will cause your jaw to stand out, creating the appearance of an elongated neck and minimizing the look of your chin. Always use colorful blush so as to draw attention to your cheeks and away from your chin. Lastly, as much as you might be tempted, especially when opting for a casual look, never leave home without some kind of color on your eyes. This will balance your entire face and reduce the attention paid to any one feature, especially your chin.

Loving the Lopsided Nose

No feature seems to give women more trouble than the nose. Maybe it is because they seem to be the first thing other people notice. The fact they can be too long, too short, too fat, or crooked just drives women crazy. The good news about noses is that one trick fixes all flaws. Using foundation to balance an uneven nose is a makeup application tip that women have been using for centuries, with the objective here being the creation of shadow that emphasizes your strengths and conceals your weaknesses.

If your nose is too long, try darker foundation on the tip and lighter foundation on the bridge and along the sides. If your nose is too short, pick a lighter shade of foundation and run it down the length of the nose from bridge to tip. For the crooked or lopsided nose, use the darker foundation along the more prominent side with a paler shade on the other. This balances the look of the nose and creates a straight, lean look.

The Eyes are the Window to the Soul

Do you ever feel like your window is permanently closed? Having eyes that are too small for the rest of your face can undermine your entire appearance. Considering how easy it is to emphasize the eyes, this is one beauty flaw that anyone can fix. How? Color, color and more color. The eyes appear smaller when left uncolored. They retreat into the face and can practically disappear. For smaller eyes always choose an eye shadow shade that compliments your eye color, enhancing their overall size. For example, if you have green eyes, wear shades of ivy and emerald, drawing the natural color of your eyes into the lid area, making them practically jump out at the person you are looking at. If your eyes are brown or hazel, your palette can include tans, browns, taupes, and all the fabulous fall shades.

Don’t limit yourself to colors that match your skin tone, either. You want to be as colorful as you can without going overboard. Look for bright colors that enhance your natural eye color or match your outfits. This will draw attention to your face and quite literally open those windows to your soul, making you appear warm and welcoming. About the only thing you want to avoid are colors that have no partner or balancing element. In other words, if your eyes are blue and your outfit is red you would want to stay away from forest green eye shadow. Other than that, go for it!

Respect the Skin

The skin is the largest organ in the body and as such, deserves the greatest amount of care when trying to address a flawed appearance. Many features that you might think are prominent are only noticeable because the skin is less than perfect. Healthy, nutrient-rich skin that glows under a well-applied foundation can minimize just about any other feature on the face and neckline, so taking care of the skin should be a top priority for every woman.

The most common problem with today’s skin is the build up of excess dry flakes, indicating the need for more exfoliation or removal of dead skin cells. Makeup applied to dry skin will crack and peel, becoming a backdrop for other undesirable features instead of a thin veil that minimizes them. Rinse the face before applying an exfoliating cleanser. Use circular motions with a loofah or exfoliating glove and rub firmly but do not scrub. Facial skin is some of the most delicate and the idea is to gently remove the dead cells, not irritate your skin further.

A tip for successful exfoliation is keeping the skin well hydrated. This allows healthy skin to develop and makes it easier for the dead skin cells to slough off. Drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer under your foundation every day. For those who have oily skin, look for products specifically designed to moisturize without creating an oily appearance. Everyone, no matter the skin type, should moisturize regularly to create a smooth base for applying makeup.

Luscious Lips

The key to minimizing flawed features is to either conceal them or draw attention to something else. Lips are the easiest feature to emphasize and generally the least flawed. Always wear lip color or shiny gloss, no matter where you are going or what type of outfit you are wearing. Contrary to eye shadow, lip color should compliment your hair and skin tones. Red heads look best in corals, cinnamons and darker reds, while blondes will find their lips look best when colored in shades of wine or mauve. Brunettes can wear just about any color, but really stand out in dark browns with a hint of red, cinnamon and deep peachy shades. Large lips can appear even bigger with bright reds and small lips are defined using pale shades.

The trick here is to always wear color on your lips to emphasize their natural beauty and draw attention away from any feature you are trying to conceal.

Everyone has at least one facial feature they would like to change. Using makeup tips to conceal these less than perfect looks can have almost the same effect. The next time you face the mirror wishing you could shrink your chin or move your nose, give these makeup tips a try. People will notice your “new and improved” look and only you will know how easy it was to achieve.

Are You a Makeup Maven or a Makeup Mishap?

Most women experiment with makeup beginning in their adolescence, which means they should have plenty of time to figure out which products and techniques work best for their face. However, some women never learn, and perhaps you are one of these makeup offenders. Find out now if the foundation of your makeup knowledge is well-blended, or caking under layers of bad makeup habits.